Jason Wang
App Redesign /Product Thinking/ 2019
What is Upflex
Within Upflex, users can get instant access to the 20,000 workspaces across 65 countries. The product is not only the platform to help users cut their commute to work but create a more positive and productive environment for them. As the demand for the app has grown exponentially, I realized there are urgent problems between our business goals and users' needs that we need to tackle. In this project, I apply the product thinking methodology to re-conduct the user research and create a new app to meet user needs.
(Solo Project) — My Role: Market Research, Wireframing, User Experience Design, Interaction Design
Problem
Why Not work At Home?
It was the tough question I was asked hundreds of times when I introduced the Upfelx app to our potential users. Many cannot see the indispensable benefits that they couldn't get from other types of workspaces. If the employees can work remotely, rather than the co-working spaces, there have many alternative locations they can choose，they can either work from home or the coffee shops nearby. It made me wonder what is the Upflex core competency. In this project, I not only work on user experience improvement but bridge the gap between users and our business goals.
The current version app
User Real Needs
Productive and stable Working Environment
The first step of my research was visiting dozens of coffee shops and shared offices, talked to the people who work remotely and observed their behaviors.In fact, for most users, their working needs are pretty simple. Rather than some frills, such as tasty coffee, modern office decor, they prefer the stable Wifi connection, smooth check-in, check-out, and clean restrooms. Also, I collected a large amount of user feedback from the Upflex customer support team which made me understand customer behavior deeply. After I conducted the preliminary research, I quickly prioritize my work and move my research to the next step.
The Type of Workspace
Desk&Meeting Room
"What are the indispensable benefits that our users get from our product?"I had asked this question to myself hundreds of times. What are the highlights of the app and how would we attract more users? Those questions confused me but also guided me to redesign the app step by step. After synthesizing my research findings, I came up with the solution to articulate our core feature in the app.
It is important to not only highlight the location flexibility when the user uses Upflex but the freedom to choose the type of workspace they need. For instance, if users wanted to talk to their clients in a quiet and private environment, it is better to book a meeting room in the app. I believe it is an essential feature of Upflex that we neglect to highlight. Therefore, the first step of my work is moving the feature to the landing page.
If users want to book a meeting room in the app, they have to search for it among dozens of amenities options. When I talked to our users, some of them even didn't know they are free to reserve one meeting room in the app.
Current App
In the new app, when they login to their accounts, the users can instantly choose the type of workspace and the numbers of the attendee. There are two reasons I make the change:
1, It is friendly for the new users to understand the essential features of Upflex. Let them know it is very flexible to reserve any time of workspace within Uplfex.
2, Simplify the search method to improve the user experience.
To avoid to disturb users, this window would only appear once at the first time they open the app.
Check-in Instruction
How To Guide Users
Being a visitor in a city that is described as a concrete jungle, it is so easy to get lost and feel completely overwhelmed. Imagining our users use Uplfex to book a workspace in a strange city, confusing road signs, building codes, and cumbersome check-in process, all the challenges of navigation would ruin the user experience. I applied the design thinking methodology to empathize with our users deeply which help them release their anxiety before they grab the seats. As a result, I added check-in instruction to the app.
Current App
New App
New App
Smart Descriptions
Work With Our Space Partners To Capture the Vibe of Spaces
I tried to explore the subtle differentiation of the shared offices. Currently, Upfelx takes the reviews and office descriptions from Google and manually enters the information into the App which is time-consuming and inefficient.No two offices are alike in the world. Sometimes, the offices offer the same amenities to people but the working experience is different. Besides displaying the amenities at each workspace, we need to allow our business partners to add more details in the back-end dashboard, such as the type of printers, the parking rates and what type of beverage they offer to people.
The back-end access that space partners can edit their space profiles.
The Current App
The New App
Because of the price policy, Upflex charges users the same rates no matter where they book the spaces. The customer reviews may not use for later users to make a decision anymore. There is no best office for users but a suitable one. How would we help users find their favorite spaces? I came up with a solution that, regardless of the Google reviews, Uplfex could work with space manager to capture the office vibes and write down the reason we recommend the space.The approach would make a good impression on our users and create user affinity.
VillageOne
Why We like here>
VillageOne is like a comfortable and trendy coffee shop. The speakers inside play some dreamy alluring fantastic music in a low volume which motivates everyone in the office work efficiently.
Nomad Works
Why We like here>
Great space to work with an incredible view!
The rooftop of the space has comfy outdoor seating
made for relaxing.
The Yard
Why We like here>
Awesome neighborhood!
One block away form Union Square.
The space is designed and decorated with wood and decor salvaged from barns, and the rustic space includes a tree house hideaway, a nap room, and private phone booths.
You Book a Space. We Plant a Tree.
The sharing economy means making the best use of resources in our society. Upflex works every day to make the world more sustainable, and now they’re taking the next step by partnering with Trees for the Future.
With our One Booking = One Tree program, every time the user makes a booking on the Upflex app, Upflex is also planting a tree. And so far, Upflex has planted over 10K trees!
I added this feature to the app which lets the user know they are with Upflex to contribute to improving our environment.
App Redesign
Icons
Add more icons to fit user new office needs
Style
Upflex is committed to proving the positive and productive environment to users. To enhance exhilarating user experience,I add light (sky) blue colors to the current color theme.Also,This approach allow user to visually divide content and find the essencial app features easily.
High Fidelity Wireframes
